The familiar blue window shimmered into existence.
[Entity Detected]
Name: Ursa Canis (Hybrid)
Status: Dormant
Disposition: In need of assistance
Si Hon blinked.
"…Need help?" he repeated. "What does that even mean?"
Another line appeared immediately beneath it.
[New Optional Quest Available]
Objective: Investigate why this entity requires assistance.
Reward: +100 Favorability
Additional Reward: Companion Contract
"…Yeah, no," Si Hon said flatly. "I'm not accepting that."
Hana bit his arm lightly.
"We should help," she said softly, clinging to him. "Sixxy feels warm. And it says companion."
Si Hon pinched the bridge of his nose. "What happens if I don't accept?"
The System responded without hesitation.
「Outcome uncertain. Possible results include emotional degradation, departure, or death.」
Hana slowly turned to face him, eyes shining as she clasped her hands together.
"Dad… please?" she asked sweetly.
As if on cue, Sixxy let out a quiet bark and looked at Si Hon with pleading eyes.
"…You were panicking five minutes ago," Si Hon muttered. "Now you're forming an alliance?"
"I'm just saying," Hana replied innocently, "it only says investigate."
Sixxy leaned forward and licked Si Hon's cheek.
Si Hon sighed deeply. "I'm a normal man with ten to thirteen at most stats and zero combat ability."
He paused.
"…If it gave me an extra reward, mayb—"
A new window instantly overlaid the old one.
[Additional Reward Granted]
Super Growth Unlocked
→ Growth Limit removed
→ Stat cap increased from 20 → 100
(Valid until next Super Growth threshold)
Si Hon stared.
"…Haha," he laughed weakly. "Wow. This isn't fair."
The quest window refreshed.
[Optional Quest: Accepted?]
Investigate why Ursa Canis requires assistance.
Reward: +100 Favorability
Additional Reward: Companion Contract
He tapped Accept.
Immediately, Sixxy sprang to her feet— and Si Hon was knocked flat onto the ground.
"Hey!"
Sixxy leaned down and began enthusiastically licking his face.
"Okay— okay— that's enough—!"
She turned and licked Hana's cheeks as well.
"H-Hehe— stop!" Hana giggled.
Si Hon then just gave up, closed his eyes, and let out a tired sigh. "…"
After a while, Si Hon finally stood up.
"Before we go… we should at least eat."
Hana's stomach answered for her with a loud growl.
"Yes," she said without hesitation.
Si Hon walked over to the dead campfire, crouched down, and began fixing it. He added a few dry branches, took out a lighter from his spatial bag, and sparked it. The fire caught quickly, orange flames flickering back to life and pushing away the cold.
He placed the spatial bag beside him and reached inside, rummaging around until his fingers sank into something wet and unpleasant.
"Ugh… yuck," he muttered.
He pulled his hand out, revealing the mole-rat he had hunted yesterday. It was still fresh, so fresh that it twitched once before finally going still.
"…So, I guess time does flow differently inside the spatial bag," he murmured.
He reached in again, this time grabbing something hard. A flat stone. He placed it on the ground and set the mole-rat on top of it.
"Eugh… that looks disgusting," he said quietly.
Standing up, he walked to the tent and retrieved 'his' katana. As he headed back toward the fire, he noticed Hana crouched beside Sixxy, talking softly to her. Sixxy responded with gentle barks, her tail swaying lazily.
"Haha," Si Hon laughed under his breath. "lol, I guess she knows how to talk to animals?"
Shaking his head and softly laughing due to how Hana was talking to a dog, he returned to the campfire. He unsheathed the katana and began working carefully. The blade sliced cleanly as he removed the legs one by one. Warm, dark blood spilled onto the stone.
"…Fuck," he muttered, turning his face away. "This is disgusting."
He chopped off the head next and tossed it into the fire. The moment the black blood touched the flames, it flared violently, the fire roaring higher as the branches beneath it slowly turned black making it look like a makeshift coal.
"Ah— what the hell?" Si Hon jumped back.
Then he paused, watching the fire burn stronger than before, and the fact that its blood is making the branches turn into a makeshift charcoal.
"…Oh," he said slowly. "That's actually useful."
He continued butchering the body, skinning it carefully. Afterward, he took a stick, dipped the mole-rat's skin into its own black blood, wrapped it around the stick, and leaned it against the tower.
"I'll make good use of you later," he muttered with a small smirk.
With a tired sigh, he finished preparing the remaining meat. He opened the spatial bag again— and froze.
Saltz, pepperz, spicez.
"…Woah," Si Hon said, grinning. "Wohoo." he said, clearly enjoying himself.
Si Hon took two of the legs and skewered them onto a stick. He made a small cut along the upper thigh, then thrust the stick into the ground at an angle so the meat hovered over the fire. A pinch of salt followed.
"Hehehe," Si Hon giggled quietly, lowkenuinely enjoying himself.
He repeated the process with the remaining two legs, setting them beside the first skewer. Finally, his gaze drifted to the main body of the mole-rat.
"Hmmm…"
After a moment of thought, he grabbed it, took a sturdy stick, and shoved it straight through the ASS until it pierced clean through. He propped two sticks on opposite sides of the campfire and rested the body between them, letting it roast slowly over the flames. A pinch of salt. A bit of spice.
Satisfied, he let out a content sigh and stood up.
"Alright," he said, turning toward Hana and Sixxy. "Let's eat."
"Okay, Dad," Hana replied as she stood, Sixxy padding along behind her.
They gathered by the fire. Si Hon sat down, waited for a bit and handed one of the skewered legs to Hana.
"Here."
"Thank you." She bit into it immediately—
"Ow! It's hot!" she yelped.
Si Hon sighed. "Blow on it."
He took the skewer back, gently blew on the meat, then tapped it lightly to cool it down before handing it back. Hana accepted it again.
"Thank you, Dad," she said, then took another bite.
Her eyes suddenly went sparkly!
"Wow!!" she exclaimed, eyes sparkling. "It's so good! I didn't expect that ugly, weird-looking creature to taste this good!"
Si Hon smirked. "That's because I cooked it."
He picked up his own skewer and blew on it before biting in. The meat was tender, the salt sharp but balanced, the spices clinging to the surface and melting into the juices. The flavor spread across his tongue, rich and satisfying, it was truly delicious that even I Wanna go there and take a bite.
"…Woah," he muttered. "This is actually delicious."
Only then did he notice Sixxy sitting nearby, watching them quietly. Smiling, he took another skewer and placed it on the flat stone, sliding it toward her.
Sixxy's tail thumped once. She leaned in, licked Si Hon's cheek, then happily started eating.
After a while, Si Hon pulled a water bottle from the spatial bag and took a long drink. He grabbed another and placed it beside Hana.
***
Once they finished eating, Si Hon stood up, sheathed his katana, and patted Sixxy's head. Sixxy lowered herself slightly, inviting Hana up.
"Huh?" Hana blinked. "You want me to ride you?"
Sixxy barked once.
Hana nodded and carefully climbed onto her back, gripping her fur as Sixxy stood.
"Wow…" Si Hon muttered with a small laugh. "You really got yourself a mount."
He stepped forward, crossing the red circle surrounding the tower.
Behind him, the barrier red circle flickered— Then shattered like glass.
——
GAWDD DAmN FAHH AY BTW GUYS HOW DO I ACTUALLY... ASCEND... IS IT HOW TO ASCEN. Z s x s x sz e d r s f s f s f s f s f r e f g y N e. Sc. G t s s d x cc. Fever efvecgrwv wvfw c gc efhw wgsev wvfw vce. Sg wvt. Wvt I ruyd RV I'm sorry for short chapter btw the way, it was because... I'm writing another book... Check it out on my page.. p r o f I l e ok I a y? A y t h I s h a r d a a. A. W o oOoOO woo woo I'm an a l p h a s I g m a u w u a y so rr y m y e d I t o r I t s. H a r d t o w r I t e l I k e t h is c h a p t e r to o k me f o u r h o u r s. Y e s I t s h a r d b - u t I t I s f u n so y e s so r r y m y be l o v e d r e a d e r s u w u a y ye ye 1500 words!!! Yippeeee he he